In a spirited call to action, President Bola Tinubu underscored the indispensable role of state governors in steering Nigeria toward a brighter future. Meeting with members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Vice President Kashim Shettima at his Ikoyi residence on New Year’s Day, the President laid out a vision for collaboration that hinges on local leadership and grassroots impact.
“You are the most important link to Nigeria’s prosperity and development,” Tinubu declared. “The Federal Government accounts for about 30 to 35 percent of the allocated revenue; the rest comes to you. The agricultural value chain depends on you. You own the land, and the job is in your hands.”
The President emphasized the need for stronger synergy between federal and state governments to tackle key challenges, including local government autonomy, agricultural growth, and currency stability. Dispelling rumors of disagreements over local government control, Tinubu called for unified efforts to transform grassroots governance.
“We will not fight within us. I will drive the change. You control your local governments. Nobody wants to take them away from you, but we need collaboration,” he said.
Tinubu highlighted agriculture as a critical pathway to economic stability, urging governors to lead the charge in boosting production.
“We have to work harder, grow more, and ensure the situation of our currency improves. Nigeria will see prosperity, but it requires consistent effort from all of us,” he noted.
Reflecting on the achievements across the states, Tinubu praised governors for their progress.
“There is no state we cannot visit and be proud of its development. Let me take the abuse; you take the privileges. Together, we will build a nation we are all proud of,” he remarked.
Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, chairman of the NGF, echoed the President’s sentiments and highlighted the impact of the administration’s policies, especially in agriculture.
“The policies are working. In Jigawa, there was a bumper harvest. Most of us are encouraging ourselves to buy bumper stocks into our silos to ensure food security,” Abdulrazak said.
He lauded the restructuring of the economy, noting its impact on state-level projects. “I must confess that I have not done two years in this administration, but I’ve done more projects in two years than in the four years of my first term,” the governor added.
Tinubu also welcomed recognition from ThisDAY newspaper as Man of the Year, seeing it as a reflection of the administration’s progress. “I commend ThisDAY for recognising what they considered a failure initially but is now a success,” he said.
